An Update on How I'm Doing and How "We" are Doing

My health, upcoming spinal surgery, and our progress here at The North Star

Let’s Start with the Good News, OK?

We’ve just climbed to #14 on the charts for paid members in the News division of Substack. Just 30 days ago, we were at #20—look at that progress!

While we’ve reached #1 for traffic and engagement in the past, we’re still playing catch-up when it comes to paid memberships. Let me explain why:

Do you see those PURPLE checkmarks?

That purple check means they have at least 10,000 members.

We currently have 2,300. The gap between #14, where we are now, and #8 is pretty massive—but, inshallah (that means "God willing"), we will get there.

I want, and I need, to hire help, but we can't do that until we significantly increase our membership base. We have three people we’re hoping to bring on this year, but we’ll need to reach at least 5,000 members before we can afford to make that happen.

Just as a quick comparison—the New York Times has 12 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS 🤯🤯🤯! When you do the math, the revenue is truly staggering. And yet, they remain cowards in so many areas of journalism.

Please, please consider joining us here and becoming a member today!

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Now, An Update on My Upcoming Spinal Surgery

I’m increasingly losing feeling and motion in my right arm. I barely use it anymore unless absolutely necessary. I know this may be jarring to hear, but sometimes the pain is so intense, I honestly wish I didn’t even have my right arm. Trust me, I’m grateful to have it, but the pain is so bad that sometimes my mind wonders whether it’d be better to be without it.

If you’re new here, you may not know that I’ve been living with chronic pain and undergoing spinal surgeries for relief since 1995—back when I was assaulted by white bigots as a teenager, and later in a car accident in 2003. For nearly every single day since, I’ve been in severe pain.

In March 2025, I had serious surgery where two discs were replaced in my neck, but I now need another one replaced and one fused.

The real challenge when you’re a husband and father with a large young family like mine is—when can you even afford the time and money for surgery? In America, if you don’t work, you don’t eat. And this surgery? It’s brutal.

I know I need it, but I don’t want it—that’s for sure.

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Addressing the Mind Control Suggestions

Whenever I talk about this upcoming surgery, many of you—in the sweetest way possible—introduce me to mind control techniques and books to deal with the pain. First, thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness. Let me share my experience with that, though.

I used those books. In fact, I read them all about 15 years ago.

What I’m dealing with now is different—it’s like trying to use mind control to stop the bleeding if my hand got cut off. The mind control can help with pain, for sure, but right now, the discs in my neck are pressing not only on my nerves but on the spinal cord itself, causing several additional issues. Mind control helps me, even now, but my current biological and medical condition requires surgery.

Mind control kept me from surgery for 22 years—but that’s no longer enough.

I’m not fussing—just sharing and teaching.

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I’ve got to run for now. I’ll be back later so we can discuss Gaza.

Love and appreciate each of you!
Shaun